For a Metal band more taken with exploring the heavenward than wreaking destruction on Earth, Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words with Tones) makes an especially sound title for an Intronaut album. The Los Angeles four-piece takes cues from an assortment of Metal subgenres — namely, Progressive, Psychedelic, Post and Experimental — and comes up with dramatic, sprawling songs. The crisp, florid “Milk Leg” from Levitations hints that the band's fourth record (out March 19) will probably spend more time floating around space’s upper reaches.
Since getting off the ground in 2004, Intronaut has become a band adored by guitar virtuoso aficionados and its current tour with Meshuggah and Animals as Leaders (two other acts championed by the same fans) can only do more good in solidifying the group as a top name in its niche.
That said, the frequent links to instrumental heroics do produce their own issues. “We're trying to make technical music not so people will go, 'Wow, this is so technical,' but rather as a challenge for ourselves to make it listenable and enjoyable on an emotional level first before you analyze it and realize that there's a cerebral dimension to it waiting to be enjoyed as well,” guitarist-vocalist Sacha Dunable once told Blistering.com.
Although the group's skills at telling captivating stories through music still need work, the tonal contrasts between turbulent sonic storms and quiet reflecting pools found on 2010’s Valley of Smoke indicate that Intronaut is already following the proper road.
INTRONAUT performs Thursday, Feb. 21 with Animals as Leaders and Meshuggah at Bogart's in Corryville. Buy tickets, check out performance times and get venue details here.
